Part 2 of "Can You Trust the Bible?"
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Hi, my name is Yeshua Hamashiach, Bill is a friend of mine, he's one of my kids, and he asked Me to tell My story. My earthly story all started at the beginning of creation after we had created the Angelic Beings. My Father the Holy Spirit and I created the heavens, universe, earth, and humankind as you know it. It was very good. We knew that Adam would be deceived by one of My fallen angels, Satan, and through his disobedience and pride sin would come into the world, followed by death.
This is when My story gets really good. Before time began, we the Godhead decided that I would come out of heaven to earth and save our fallen creation. So, I did. We knew that we were giving evil an opportunity when we decided to give our children free will. We wanted worship to be willing and not forced. Our remedy to sin and eternal spiritual death was Me. So, I became Emmanual, God with us.
I lived among My people for 33 years as fully God and fully man. I lived a perfect life without sin. This was necessary so I could be a blood sacrifice to save everyone who believes in Me by faith. I voluntarily went to My death so that the sins of all mankind could be forgiven. I died on a cross, was buried, and rose to life on the third day. My resurrection gave those who believe in Me eternal life. I would then spend 40 days revealing Myself to 500 of my followers who would later be called Christians. Then I ascended back into heaven witnessed by eleven of My Apostles.
You might ask, "Why would I leave Heaven and come to Earth?" Because I love you and died for you so that you could live with Me forever. I created you for eternal fellowship. I sent you the Holy Spirit to guide you on your earthly journey. I now sit at the right hand of the Father and intercede for you. I have prepared a place for you to join Me. I want to remind you that I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, I was, and am, and always will be. I AM God Almighty!
Thank you, Bill, for asking Me to remind My creation of My story. I encourage you to read the Bible if you want more and learn how your story can become part of My Story.
Jesus Christ
Claims About the Deity of Jesus
The Holy Scriptures make numerous claims about the deity of Jesus Christ, raising questions about their integrity and truthfulness. Christians may ponder how to ensure their beliefs are not misguided, while non-Christians might doubt the Bible's reliability. The evidence provided here seeks to substantiate the reasons for accepting the Bible's claims. Ten unique aspects that set the Bible apart from any other literary work will be explored. The initial nine have been addressed in our blog post titled "Can You Trust the Bible?"
Considering this evidence, it becomes clear that the Bible is a dependable and reliable text. Indeed, the facts demonstrate that it is exactly what it claims to be—a divine revelation from the living God to humanity. With this consideration, let's explore the tenth reason, in our blog post titled "Can You Trust the Bible?"
Reason 10: The Bible’s Main Character is Jesus Christ
The tenth reason to trust the Bible concerns the person and work of its main character, Jesus Christ. When one examines the life and teachings of Jesus it becomes clear that He is in a class by Himself. We can make the following observations.
Jesus Stands in a Distinct Category Compared to the Founders of Other World Religions
Jesus Is in a different class than the founders of other world religions. Throughout history, numerous religious leaders have emerged and garnered vast followings. The Buddha, with his insights on navigating life's suffering, attracted millions of followers. Confucius, with his principles of societal harmony, also amassed a following in the millions. Muhammad and the Islamic faith can claim a similar scale of adherence. However, Jesus has shown that He stands apart from these figures, as well as from the founders of other major world religions. What makes Jesus different?
ONE: The Person of Jesus Christ Is the Issue: Not His Teachings
First, He made Himself the issue while other leaders made their teachings the prime concern. Central to religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Confucianism, etc. are the teachings. What is stressed in these particular religions are the various things which these founders taught; not so much who they were. The teachers, therefore, are secondary to the teachings. However, in Christianity, the opposite is true.
The all-important issue is not so much what Jesus taught, as whom He claimed to be. This is one of the major differences between Jesus and the founders of other religions - He made Himself the issue.
Jesus Represents Himself as the Son of God
The claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God, is one which Jesus accepted. We read the following account:
"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13).
Jesus wanted to know what was being said about Him by the multitudes. Who did the people think that He was? The disciples responded in this manner: They replied,
“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).
The people at that time had several different ideas as to Jesus’ identity. There did not seem to be any consensus among them. Jesus then personalized the question. We read Jesus’ follow-up question:
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15).
The Lord wanted to know what His disciples thought of Him. Who was He to them? We read their reply:
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Peter, speaking for the group, said that they believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Note Jesus’ response to this confession by Peter:
Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).
We discover that Jesus acknowledged Peter’s confessional statement about Him. He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Thus, Jesus believed Himself to be the Promised One. Jesus asked this question to secure a commitment either for Him or against Him. He wanted people to make a clear declaration about Him. Was He a great prophet or a great teacher? Or was He something more, the Christ the Son of God?
Your Eternal Destiny Is Based Upon How You View Jesus
The identity of Jesus is not merely an academic issue. According to Jesus, eternal destinies are determined by how one responds to His claims. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day the following:
"I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I Am He, you will indeed die in your sins" (John 8:24).
We do not find the leaders of the other world religions ever making such claims. Indeed, they never made themselves the issue. When the Jewish religious leaders brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, their accusation against Him was as follows: The Jewish leaders insisted,
“We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:7).
Therefore, contrary to the founders of all the other major religions, it is the identity of Jesus Christ, not His teachings, that is the major issue. There is one exception, which is Liberal Churches and Theologians, who want to make his teaching a priority with no real emphasis on His identity and a personal relationship with Him. The only two truths about Jesus seem to be that "Jesus loves everybody even in their sin," and "Feed the poor." If you do these things, as they do, you are a Christian. Of course, this is not true. It's about who He is not what He teaches.
TWO: Jesus Backed Up His Claims by Performing Miracles
A second aspect that separates Jesus from other religious leaders is that He demonstrated He had the authority to make such monumental claims. While other religious leaders have made great claims, they have given no legitimate evidence to substantiate them. Jesus, on the other hand, backed up His claims with objective proof. The account of Jesus healing a paralyzed man illustrates this point. When this man was brought before Him,
Jesus said: … “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
This claim to forgive sins upset the religious rulers. Mark records the following response: Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:6-7).
They said it is only God who can forgive sins. They were absolutely right in their assertion that only God could forgive sins. The prophet Isaiah records God as saying:
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more" (Isaiah 43:25).
But making the claim to forgive sins is something that cannot be publicly verified. How could anyone have known that Jesus had this authority? Realizing this to be the case, Jesus responded:
"Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So, he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home.” He got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:8-12).
We note how Jesus dealt with the situation. He asked, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven or rise up and walk?’” It is much easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” because no one can tell, at that moment, whether or not they have been forgiven. There is no observable sign that accompanies the forgiveness of sin. But, if someone says to a paralyzed man, “Rise up and walk,” it will immediately become apparent to everyone whether or not the person has the ability to supernaturally heal.
When Jesus instantly healed the paralytic, He showed the religious rulers He had God's authority - since this miracle occurred where everyone could see it with their own eyes. Jesus, therefore, demonstrated His authority in the observable realm. It illustrated the fact that He also had supernatural authority to forgive sins in the realm we cannot see—the invisible realm.
Therefore, Jesus Christ did not merely make claims about Himself; He backed up those claims with observable miracles, which testified, to His power and authority. The concept of Jesus as God depicting Him as the great, I Am is always followed by miracles.
THREE: Jesus is "God" the Great "I Am"
In John chapter 8 Jesus condemns the Jewish leaders for their sin and unbelief.
"So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They (Jewish leaders) answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin" (John 8:31-34).
This was certainly a new concept for they thought they were righteous because they were born children of Father Abraham. They didn't believe the Prophets proclaiming God's Messiah and killed them. Now they are trying to kill Jesus who fulfilled over 100 of these prophesies. Then He says they don't believe His words.
"I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore, you also do the things which you heard from your father.” (John 8:37-38).
We are of Father Abraham and believe in the one God. Jesus said to them, your father is the Devil and a liar. You want to do the desires of your father. Therefore, they could not understand what He was saying.
“If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me" (John 8:42:45).
Jesus said I Am before Abraham was born and the Jews wanted to stone. Why? Because they knew He was claiming to be God and the penalty for blasphemy is death.
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So, the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple" (John 8:56-59).
The "I AM" of the Burning Bush
"I Am" is the name God used in Exodus, Isiah, Revelation, and the gospel of John to reveal His Name. It was spoken to Moses from the "burning bush."
"The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush, and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So, Moses said, “must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am. ... “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:2-3, 13-14).
“I AM” may easily escape our attention, but we should note that these are the same words and construction that Jesus used in the gospel of John and for which the Jews sought to stone Him for claiming to be God! Thus, in Judaism, “I AM” is unquestionably understood as a name for God. Whenever Jesus made an “I am” statement in which He claimed attributes of deity, He was identifying Himself as God and that's why they crucified Him.
“I, I alone, Am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25).
I Am in Greek is ego eimi, which is a claim to deity. When it is said twice it is for emphasis, I Am God, I Am God! In both cases, it is an emphatic statement about who God is and His uniqueness in all of existence, as the creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
The book Revelation uses the "I Am" statement often. In Revelation 1:8, 17, 18; 2:8; 21:6; & 22:13.
"I Am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. The Jewish rabbis used to say that God was the Aleph and Tov – the first and last letters in the Hebrew alphabet. It means God is over everything, there is nothing outside His sovereignty, understanding, or capacity. There is no time that exceeds His domain. He is not subject to the limitations of time, as we know it. Why, because He is God.
The key points here are that Christ is Deity and He dwells in the eternal present, and is not subject to the limitations of time, having created it as a basic aspect of the present universe, nor does He change in time.
"The Jews answered, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but blasphemy and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God" (John 10:33).
Seven "I Am" Statements of Jesus
In the Gospel of John, there are seven times Jesus says, "I Am," referring that He is God and offers graces, blessings, forgiveness, and eternal life to those who believe in Him. He uses metaphors with common items to emphasize His divine nature and Godhead. Each of these “I am” proclamations further our understanding of Jesus’ ministry in the world and to us today as born-again Christians.
1) Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty" (John 6;35).
"I Am the Bread of Life." Jesus establishes a pattern that continues through John’s gospel—Jesus makes a statement about who He is, and He backs it up with something He does. In this case, Jesus states that He is the bread of life just after He had fed the 5,000 in the wilderness. At the same time, He contrasts what He can do with what Moses had done for their ancestors: “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die”.
2) "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12).
“"I Am the light of the world." This comes right before He heals a man born blind. Jesus not only says He is the light; He proves it. Jesus’ words and actions echo Genesis 1:3, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
3) "So, Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:7-9).
"I Am the door." This “I am” statement stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven by any other means than Christ Himself. Jesus’ words in this passage are couched in the imagery of a sheepfold. He is the one and only way to enter the fold. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber”.
4) “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15).
"I Am the Good Shepherd" portrays Jesus' great love and care. He is the One who willingly protects His flock even to the point of death. When Jesus called Himself the good shepherd, He unmistakably took for Himself one of God’s titles in the Old Testament: “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
5) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies" (John 11:25).
"I Am the Resurrection and the Life" was made immediately before raising Lazarus from the dead. Again, we see that Jesus’ teaching was not just empty talk; when He made a claim, He substantiated it with action. He holds “the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:18). In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus showed how He can fulfill Yahweh’s promise to ancient Israel: “[God’s] dead shall live; their bodies shall rise” (Isaiah 26:19). Apart from Jesus, there is neither resurrection nor eternal life.
6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
"I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life." Jesus is not merely one way among many ways to God; He is the only way. Scripture said that “The very essence of [God’s] words is truth” (Psalm 119:160), and here is Jesus proclaiming that He is the truth—confirming His identity as the Word of God. And Jesus alone is the source of life; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and the Giver of eternal life.
7) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:1, 5).
"I Am the True Vine." The final metaphorical “I am” statement in the Gospel of John emphasizes the sustaining power of Christ. We are the branches, and He is the vine. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is joined in vital union with the vine, only those who are joined to Christ and receive their power from Him produce fruit in the Christian life.
FOUR: Predictive Prophecy Separates Jesus from Other Religious Leaders
A fourth thing that separates Jesus from other founders of the great religions is that His coming into the world was predicted by the Old Testament prophets. We can make the following observations. One of the major themes of the Old Testament is that God would send a Deliverer or Messiah (the Christ) to come into the world. He would eventually rule as king over Israel as well as rule over all the nations of the earth.
A practical question arises, “How would the people know the identity of this promised Messiah when He arrived?” Theoretically, anyone could claim to be God’s anointed one. This, however, was not the case. God narrowed it down in such a way that whoever claimed to be the Messiah would have to fulfill some very specific predictions. We will look at three specific areas that had to be fulfilled by anyone claiming to be the promised Messiah.
The Family Line of The Messiah Was Predicted
The first set of predictions, which we will consider, has to do with the Messiah’s genealogy or family line. God narrowed down the family line of the Messiah in such a way that eliminated most of the people who had ever been born.
1. Prediction: He Will Come from The Family of Shem
The Bible says that the Messiah will be a descendant of one of Noah’s sons – Shem. We read about this in the Book of Genesis. It says: He also said,
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend Japheth’s territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth” (Genesis 9:26,27).
Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God eliminated two-thirds of humanity when He said the Messiah would come through the line of Shem.
The Fulfillment Recorded
Luke lists the genealogy of Jesus where he records Jesus was a descendant of Shem. It says,
"He was . . . The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech" (Luke 3:36).
Thus, Jesus was a descendant of Shem.
2. Prediction: The Christ Will Be a Descendant of Abraham
The Bible says that the Messiah will descend from Abraham. We read in the Book of Genesis the Lord saying the following:
"The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).
Now God eliminates all the families of the earth but one - the family of Abraham. Whoever claims to be the Messiah has to be a descendant of Abraham for God told Abraham that one of his descendants will bless all the earth.
The Fulfillment Recorded
In the first verse of Matthew’s gospel, he states that Jesus descended from Abraham. We read:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).
Jesus descended from Abraham. The promise to Abraham was literally fulfilled.
The Testimony of Paul the Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, also emphasized that God specified one from Abraham’s line would be the Christ. He wrote to the Galatians:
"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ" (Gal 3:16).
The Apostle Paul says that God uses the singular rather than the plural to emphasize it will be one particular descendant of Abraham who will bless the world—this one descendant was Jesus.
Prediction: He Will Be a Descendant of Isaac
Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. God promised Isaac that the Messiah would be through his family line. We also read about this in Genesis:
"Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants, I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 26:3,4).
Therefore, the Messiah would be born through the line of Isaac, not Ishmael, the other son of Abraham.
The Fulfillment Recorded
According to Matthew, Jesus was from Isaac’s line. He stated:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac" (Matthew 1:1,2).
The promise to Isaac was fulfilled.
Prediction: The Messiah Will Come from The Family of Jacob
Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Scripture says that the chosen line was through Jacob. This continues to narrow the possible candidates for the Messiah. It says in the Book of Genesis:
"And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you” (Genesis 35:11,12).
Jacob, not Esau, would have the Messiah come through his line.
The Fulfillment Recorded
Jesus was also from the line of Jacob. Matthew records it as follows:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers (Matthew 1:1,2).
The promise to Jacob was fulfilled.
Prediction: He Will Come from the Tribe of Judah
Jacob had twelve sons. God eliminated 11/12 of the line of Jacob by saying the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah:
"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his" (Genesis 49:10).
Therefore, the line of the Messiah is narrowed even further.
The Fulfillment Recorded
Jesus descended from the line of Judah. Matthew records the following:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers" (Matthew 1:1,2).
The promise that the Lord made to Judah was literally fulfilled.
Prediction: The Messiah Will Be from the Family Line of Jesse
There were many family lines in the tribe of Judah, but only through the family line of Jesse could the Messiah come. He is the Branch that will bear fruit according to the prophet Isaiah. He wrote:
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1).
The Bible says that Jesse would have a descendant who would be the Messiah.
The Fulfillment Recorded
Jesus was a descendant of Jesse. Matthew writes:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham. . . Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse" (Matthew 1:1,5).
Again, we find that God’s promise is fulfilled.
Prediction: He Will Descend from The House of David
God told David that the Messiah would be from His line. We read about this promise in Second Samuel. It says:
"When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom" (2 Samuel 7:12).
Jesse had at least eight sons. God eliminated 7/8 of the sons of Jesse when He said the Messiah would be through the line of David. Again, the list of potential candidates gets narrower and narrower.
The Fulfillment Recorded
The Bible records the fulfillment as follows:
"This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).
The very first verse of the New Testament records the fulfillment of this prophecy. When the angel appeared to Mary announcing Jesus’ birth, he confirmed that Mary’s child would be a descendant of David. Luke writes:
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:31,32).
The Bible says that Jesus descended from David. Again, the promises of God come true.
Summary To the Genealogy of The Messiah
Whoever the promised Messiah would be, He must be a physical descendant of King David. This requirement eliminates nearly everyone else from consideration. According to the prophecies regarding the Messiah's genealogy, only a select few can qualify. Jesus, however, meets these Old Testament prophecies by being a descendant of David.
The Place of The Messiah’s Coming Was Predicted
In addition, the exact place of His birth was predicted.
Prediction: He Will Born in Bethlehem
Through the prophet Micah, God predicted the exact city where the Messiah would be born. He said the following:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2).
Every city in the world was eliminated except for one—Bethlehem of Judah. Therefore, if someone were a descendant of King David but born in any city other than Bethlehem of Judea, he would not qualify as the promised Messiah. Interestingly, there was another city named Bethlehem in Israel at that time; however, this Bethlehem was not located in the land of Judah. To fulfill the prophecy, the Messiah had to be born specifically in Bethlehem of Judea, not in the other Bethlehem.
The Fulfillment Recorded
Jesus was not only born in the right family; He was also born at the right place; Bethlehem of Judea. Matthew records the following:
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem" (Matthew 2:1).
Matthew records the fact that Jesus was indeed born in the predicted city, the city of Bethlehem of Judea.
The Time of The Messiah’s Coming Was Predicted
Finally, we have the prediction with respect to the time in history of the Messiah’s coming.
Prediction: He Will Be Killed Before the Temple and The City of Jerusalem Are Destroyed
The Old Testament predicts the death of the Messiah. This is found in the Book of Daniel. It reads:
"After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed" (Daniel 9:26).
We learn three things from this verse:
1. The Messiah will come on the scene of history.
2. He will be killed.
3. After His death, the city of Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed.
The Fulfillment Recorded
When Jesus came to Earth, the city of Jerusalem and the temple had not yet been destroyed. Teaching at the temple was a significant part of Jesus' ministry. The temple and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed in A.D. 70, forty years after His death and resurrection. This destruction was a literal fulfillment of predictions made earlier.
Summary of the Prophecies Concerning the Messiah
Therefore, Jesus fulfilled certain prophecies about the coming Messiah. They include:
1. He was born in the right family line—David’s.
2. He was born at the right place—Bethlehem of Judea.
3. He was born at the right time in history—before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.
These three areas of prophecy reveal two significant truths. First, the prophecies were fulfilled literally—exactly as they were written. Jesus was a literal descendant of King David, He was born in the city of Bethlehem, and He entered history and was killed before the city of Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed. In other words, the prophecies were fulfilled precisely as they were foretold.
There Was No Human Manipulation in The Fulfillment
Second, these three lines of prophecy were all fulfilled without any human manipulation. There is no way Jesus could have deliberately fulfilled them, seeing they were all fulfilled by His birth. Before He gave any sermons, before He did anything miraculous, Jesus supernaturally fulfilled these prophecies. He was born in the right family, at the right place, and at the right time in history. Humanly speaking, there is no way Jesus could control these factors. Therefore, we find in the birth of Jesus Christ, a miraculous fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
FIVE: Jesus Christ Came Back from the Dead
In my opinion, the most important fact that sets Jesus apart from all others is that He conquered the ultimate enemy we all face—death. By rising from the dead, He offered a definitive answer to the question, “What will happen to us when we die?” No other religious figure has returned from the dead to confirm their claims except Jesus of Nazareth.
Additionally, the bodily resurrection of Jesus can be examined using rigorous historical methods. While many other religious traditions propose ideas of spiritual resurrections—an untestable hypothesis—the New Testament uniquely asserts a bodily resurrection that withstands all tests of historical reliability. The evidence clearly shows that Jesus Christ has risen! The only reasonable explanation for these historical facts is that God raised Jesus in bodily form, triumphing forever over sin and death. Lord Darling, the former chief law officer in England, articulated this well:
"We as Christians are asked to take a very great deal on trust; the teachings, for example, and the miracles of Jesus. If we had to take all on trust, I, for one, should be skeptical. The crux of the problem of whether Jesus was, or was not, what he proclaimed himself to be, must surely depend upon the truth or otherwise of the resurrection. On that greatest point, we are not merely asked to have faith. In its favor as a living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world can fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true" (Lord Darling cited by Michael Green, The Day Death Died, Intervarsity Press, 1982, p. 15).
This offers believers genuine hope for life after death. Thus, the resurrection of Jesus Christ distinguishes Him from all other religious figures, past or present, as He triumphed over the greatest enemy, we all face—death. Jesus died for the sins of all mankind and was raised from death to life.
Historical Evidence
It is widely accepted that Jesus Christ was publicly executed in Judea during the 1st Century A.D. under Pontius Pilate through crucifixion, at the request of the Jewish Sanhedrin. The historical records of non-Christian figures such as Flavius Josephus, Cornelius Tacitus, Lucian of Samosata, Maimonides, and even the Jewish Sanhedrin support the early Christian testimonies regarding these significant historical events surrounding the death of Jesus Christ.
As for His resurrection, there are several lines of evidence which make for a compelling case. The international statesman Sir Lionel Luckhoo has the Guinness World Record for his unprecedented 245 consecutive defense murder trial acquittals. He wrote,
“I have spent more than 42 years as a defense trial lawyer appearing in many parts of the world and am still in active practice. I have been fortunate to secure a number of successes in jury trials and I say unequivocally the evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt.”
Dying for the Truth
There is clear and genuine eyewitness testimony available. Early Christian defenders referred to numerous eyewitnesses, some of whom recorded their own encounters. A significant number of these eyewitnesses willingly faced severe torture and death rather than deny their testimony. This demonstrates their sincerity, eliminating the possibility of deceit. Despite having the option to end their suffering by renouncing their beliefs, the majority of Christians chose to endure the hardship and proclaim the resurrection of Christ until their last breath.
Although martyrdom is noteworthy, it may not always be convincing. It authenticates a believer more than it validates a belief. The earliest Christian martyrs were remarkable because they were certain about the truth of what they were professing. They either saw Jesus Christ alive-and-well after His death or they did not. Given their circumstances, why would so many continue to perpetuate a lie if it was indeed false? Why would they all steadfastly hold onto such a non-beneficial falsehood despite facing persecution, imprisonment, torture, and death?
The Apostles were among the most distinguished individuals who claimed to have seen the events themselves. After the purported post-resurrection appearances of Christ, they collectively experienced a clear transformation. Right after His crucifixion, they were afraid for their lives and went into hiding. However, after the resurrection, they bravely went out into the streets to proclaim the resurrection, even in the face of increasing persecution. What caused this sudden and remarkable transformation? It was definitely not for money. The Apostles sacrificed everything, even their lives, to spread the message of the resurrection.
Transformation of Skeptics
Another piece of evidence relates to the transformation of some significant skeptics, particularly Paul and James. Paul openly admitted to being a fierce persecutor of the early Church. However, following a supposed meeting with the resurrected Christ, Paul experienced a sudden and profound shift from a brutal persecutor of the Church to one of its most dedicated and altruistic advocates. Similar to numerous early Christians, Paul endured poverty, persecution, physical abuse, imprisonment, and ultimately death due to his unwavering belief in Christ's resurrection.
James was skeptical, though not as hostile as Paul. A purported post-resurrection encounter with Christ turned him into an inimitable believer, a leader of the Church in Jerusalem. Scholars generally accept the Book of James to be one of his letters to the early Church. Like Paul, James willingly suffered and died for his testimony, a fact which attests to the sincerity of his belief.
Evidence for the Empty Tomb
Another piece of evidence relates to the enemies' acknowledgment of the empty tomb and the emergence of faith in the resurrection in Jerusalem. Jesus was publicly executed and buried in Jerusalem. For faith in His resurrection to establish itself in Jerusalem, His body needed to no longer be in the tomb, as the Sanhedrin could have removed it, displayed it publicly, and revealed the deception. Instead, the Sanhedrin accused the disciples of stealing the body, apparently in an effort to explain its disappearance and therefore an empty tomb. How do we explain the fact of the empty tomb?
Most Common Explanations for the Empty Tomb
If the disciples had stolen the body, they would have been aware that the resurrection was a deception. Consequently, they would not have been willing to endure suffering and death for it. All the supposed eyewitnesses would have been aware that they did not truly see Christ and would have been dishonest. Given the large number of conspirators, it is likely that at least one person would have confessed, either to alleviate their own suffering or that of their loved ones.
The initial Christians suffered severe persecution. Nero blamed them and subjected them to extreme torture because they were despised by society for their practices, known as Christianity. Many were found guilty, not only for allegedly setting the city on fire, but also for their opposition to humanity. They endured various forms of mockery and cruel deaths, such as being torn apart by dogs while clad in animal skins, crucified, or burned alive to light up the night after sunset.
During his garden parties, Nero used Christians as torches, burning them alive. One might assume that someone would have renounced their faith to avoid such agony. Surprisingly, there are no historical records of early Christians betraying their beliefs under duress. On the contrary, there are numerous reports of encounters with the resurrected Christ and hundreds of witnesses who were ready to endure persecution and death for their faith.
Christ Faked His Death?
If the disciples did not steal the body, how can we account for the empty tomb? Some have proposed that Jesus pretended to die and later escaped from the tomb. However, this idea is clearly implausible. Based on the accounts of witnesses, Jesus endured severe physical trauma, including beatings, torture, lacerations, and a fatal spear wound to the heart. It is unreasonable to think that anyone, including Jesus, could survive such injuries, feign death, spend three days in a tomb without medical care, sustenance, or water, move the large stone blocking the tomb, evade detection (without leaving a blood trail), persuade numerous eyewitnesses of his resurrection and good health, and then vanish without a trace. Such a concept is absurd.
Peculiarity of the Eyewitness Testimony - Women
One noteworthy aspect of the eyewitness accounts is the prominent role of women. In the main resurrection stories, women are recognized as the initial and key witnesses. This detail is particularly significant considering the low regard for women in both ancient Jewish and Roman societies. Women's testimonies were commonly viewed as unreliable and inconsequential. Therefore, it seems improbable that any individuals planning a deception in 1st Century Judea would opt for women to serve as their primary witnesses. If the male disciples who professed to have seen the resurrected Jesus were fabricating the story, why would they choose women, who were already perceived negatively and lacked credibility, as their primary witnesses? Dr. William Lane Craig explains,
“When you understand the role of women in first-century Jewish society, what’s really extraordinary is that this empty tomb story should feature women as the discoverers of the empty tomb in the first place. Women were on a very low rung of the social ladder in first-century Israel. There are old rabbinical sayings that said, 'Let the words of Law be burned rather than delivered to women' and 'blessed is he whose children are male, but woe to him whose children are female.' Women’s testimony was regarded as so worthless that they weren’t even allowed to serve as legal witnesses in a Jewish court of Law. In light of this, it’s absolutely remarkable that the chief witnesses to the empty tomb are these women... Any later legendary account would have certainly portrayed male disciples as discovering the tomb - Peter or John, for example. The fact that women are the first witnesses to the empty tomb is most plausibly explained by the reality that - like it or not - they were the discoverers of the empty tomb! This shows that the Gospel writers faithfully recorded what happened, even if it was embarrassing. This bespeaks the historicity of this tradition rather than its legendary status." (Dr. William Lane Craig, quoted by Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998, p. 293)
Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead Biblically
Who resurrected Jesus from the dead? Peter says that “God raised [Jesus] from the dead.”
"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power" (Acts 2:24).
"And He died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf"(2 Corinthians 5:15).
All Three Persons of the Trinity
God meaning all three Persons of the Trinity were involved in the resurrection.
"Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)" (Galatians 1:1).
This says that the Father raised Jesus from the dead.
"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). "Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:3-4).
This says that the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. Also, Jesus predicts that He will raise Himself from the dead.
"No one has taken it (My life) away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father” John 10:18).
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world” (John 11:25-27).
He claimed to be the resurrection with absolute authority over life and death for Himself,
"And the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades"(Revelation 1:18).
and all who believe by faith in Him.
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you"(Romans 8:11).
Jesus is God. He could say He would raise up His body on the third day because He, being God, has power over death.
Proofs of His Resurrection
The Bible provides solid proof (conclusive evidence) that Jesus Christ truly rose from the dead. His resurrection is documented in the four Gospels: Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-53, and John 20:1–21:25. Additionally, the resurrected Christ is mentioned in the Book of Acts.
"The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So, when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11).
From these passages you can gain several “proofs” of Christ’s resurrection.
First is the dramatic change in the disciples. They went from a group of men frightened and in hiding to strong, courageous witnesses sharing the gospel throughout the world. What else could explain this dramatic change other than the risen Christ appearing to them?
Second is the life of the apostle Paul. What changed him from being a persecutor of the church into an apostle for the church? It was when the risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6).
A third convincing proof is the empty tomb. If Christ were not raised, then where is His body? The disciples and others saw the tomb where He was buried. When they returned, His body was not there. Angels declared that He had been raised from the dead as He had promised (Matthew 28:5-7).
Fourth, additional evidence of His resurrection is the many people He appeared to (Matthew 28:5, 9, 16-17; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:19, 24, 26-29, 21:1-14; Acts 1:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:5-7).
A Fifth proof of the resurrection of Jesus is the great amount of weight the apostles gave to Jesus’ resurrection. A key passage on Christ’s resurrection is 1 Corinthians 15. In this chapter, the apostle Paul explains why it is crucial to understand and believe in Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection is important for the following reasons:
1) If Christ was not raised from the dead, believers will not be either.
"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised" (1 Corinthians 15:12-15).
2) If Christ was not raised from the dead, His sacrifice for sin was not sufficient.
"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:16-19).
Sixth, Jesus’ resurrection proved that His death was accepted by God as the atonement for our sins. If He had simply died and stayed dead, that would indicate His sacrifice was not sufficient. As a result, believers would not be forgiven for their sins, and they would remain dead after they die. There would be no such thing as eternal life.
"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:13-17).
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Finally, the Seventh, Scripture is clear that all those who believe in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal life just as He was.
"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
First Corinthians 15 goes on to describe how Christ’s resurrection proves His victory over sin and provides us the power to live victoriously over sin.
"Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him" (1 Corinthians 15:24-27).
It describes the glorious nature of the resurrection body we will receive.
"But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ... So also. is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:35, 43-49).
It proclaims that, as a result of Christ’s resurrection, all who believe in Him have ultimate victory over death.
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:50-57).
What a glorious truth the resurrection of Christ is!
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
In Summary
According to the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is most definitely true. The Bible records Christ’s resurrection, records that over 500 people witnessed the resurrected Christ, and proceeds to build crucial Christian doctrine on the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection. The following lines of evidence all strongly attest to the historicity of the resurrection.
the demonstrable sincerity of the eyewitnesses,
the Apostles’ compelling inexplicable change,
the conversion and demonstrable sincerity of key antagonists - and skeptics-turned-martyrs,
the fact of the empty tomb,
enemy attestation to the empty tomb,
the fact that all of this took place in Jerusalem where faith in the resurrection began and thrived,
the testimony of the women,
the significance of such testimony given the historical context,
the Testament of the Bible,
and the more proofs added regarding the resurrection.
We encourage our readers to thoughtfully consider this evidence. What do they suggest to you? Having pondered them ourselves, we resolutely affirm in our hearts Jesus is God and worthy to be worshiped and praised.
SIX: Jesus Is God!
Our emphasis, based on God-given revelation, is that only Jesus plus nothing else can save and rescue you from God’s wrath and righteousness judgment. So why is Jesus Christ the only way to be saved from God’s wrath? Why can’t other religious leaders like Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, Allah, etc. save us? Isn’t it shallow thinking or dogmatic to say Jesus is the only way to God? Some will say this is a narrow approach and that all roads lead to God. Is that true? Are there many truths leading to your Salvation? These are good questions and need to be answered. The answer is straightforward. Jesus Christ is the only way (path, road, access) to God the Father because He is God the Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
All others were mere men. Were they religious men, probably; wise men, possibly; men sent from God in heaven, no. Only Jesus is God.
He was not just a good man though He was.
Jesus was not just a prophet though He was.
He was not just a great teacher or Jewish Rabbi though He was. Jesus was God before He came to earth. He was fully God and fully man while He walked on this earth. He is God right now in heaven. Therefore, Jesus says,
"I Am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’…And He laid His right hand upon me (Apostle John) saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I Am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead and, behold, I Am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Hell)” (Revelation 1:8,17,18).
Jesus is Sufficient to Satisfy God's Wrath
Jesus is the only one sufficient to satisfy God's wrath and meet the requirement of His justice. In Jesus, every believer Is: set free by His truth, born again by the seed of His word, purified from sin by His blood, forgiven by Jesus' substitutionary atonement, justified by His imputed righteousness, and saved based on His grace. reconciled to God by His mediation, and eternally secure by His promises.
Set Free By His Truth
"So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Born Again by the Seed of His Word
"For you have been born again not of seed, which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
Purified From Sin by His Blood
"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Forgiven By Jesus' Substitutionary Atonement
"But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all to fall on Him. Because He poured out His life unto death and was counted with wrongdoers; yet He Himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the wrongdoers" (Isaiah 53:5-6, 12b).
Justified By His Imputed Righteousness
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Saved Based on His Grace
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds" (Titus 2: 11-14).
Reconciled to God by His Mediation
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Eternally Secure by His Promises
"Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing but will raise it up on the last day" (John 6:37-39).
Summary That Jesus Is God
Only Jesus came from Heaven. Only Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. He took all the sins of the world upon Himself. Only Jesus died on the cross for all sins, past—present —future. He descended into hell to defeat death. Only Jesus rose from the dead. He ascended back into heaven. Only Jesus has prepared a home in heaven for all who believe in Him. Only Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father.
"Today, if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 4:7). "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling (to Jews) and a rock of offense (to Gentiles), and he who believes in Jesus will not be disappointed" (Rom 9:33).
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
When you believe in Jesus, you receive a new divine nature, your sins are forgiven, you have eternal life and God's wrath is removed forever.
Therefore, Jesus is different from the founders of other religions in at least four ways. They include the following.
1. He made Himself the issue instead of His teachings. He claimed our eternal destiny depends upon how we view Him!
2. He backed up His claims with observable miracles.
3. He fulfilled Old Testament predictions made about His life and His ministry. These predictions were made hundreds of years before He was born.
4. He conquered death to verify that He was the unique Son of God. These four things separate Jesus from any other religious leader past or present. He Is Jesus-The Only Carnegie Simpson offers a fitting conclusion on the uniqueness of Jesus. He wrote the following:
"Instinctively we do not class Him with others. When one reads His name in a list beginning with Confucius and ending with Goethe, we feel it is an offense less against orthodoxy than against decency. Jesus is not one of the groups of the world's great. Talk about Alexander the Great and Charles the Great and Napoleon the Great if you will . . . Jesus is apart. He is not the Great; He is the Only. He is simply Jesus. Nothing could add to that . . . He is beyond our analyses. He confounds our canons of human nature. He . . . awes our spirits" (Quoted by John Stott, Basic Christianity, Downers Grove, Ill: Inter-Varsity Press, 1971, p. 36).
The matchless character of Jesus Christ is a true wonder of the Bible.
Summary To Reason 10
The central figure of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Unlike other religious leaders who focused on their teachings, Jesus emphasized His own identity. He not only declared himself to be the Son of God but also expected people to acknowledge this truth. He posed a fundamental question: Was He truly who He claimed to be? Jesus asserted that how individuals perceive Him will determine their eternal fate. No other religious leader has made such bold assertions. The Bible recounts not only Jesus' remarkable self-proclamations but also his demonstration of these claims through miracles performed during his time on earth.
Furthermore, Jesus fulfilled prophecies made about Him centuries before His birth. The ultimate proof of the validity of His claims is His resurrection from the dead. Therefore, Jesus Christ, the primary figure in the Bible, stands out as truly exceptional. His teachings and actions are unparalleled, making Him incomparable to anyone else – He is in a league of His own.
JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU
This is a detailed discussion of who Jesus is and how He Saves you!
We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND FEEL HIS LOVING PRESENCE?
This is the ultimate Christian online course on learning how to be intimate with God, not just knowing about Him, but to experience Him so He influences your heart, your marriage, family, church, and world.
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